REVIEW: ‘Delicious in Dungeon’ Episode 14 – “Sea Serpent”

Laios (Kentarô Kumagai), Senshi (Hiroshi Naka), and Chilchuck (Asuna Tomari) prepare to return to the surface, hoping to get help for Marcille (Sayaka Senbongi). Rather than showcase the main party, Delicious in Dungeon Episode 14 focuses on some other familiar faces. Kabru’s (Wataru Kat0, Kaiju No. 8) adventuring party is back. Last scene defeated at the hands of Mermen, the party is getting back on its feet. But with all the previous setbacks, can this group push on?

When we first return to our second set of adventurers we find them being aided by Namari’s (Akira Miki) group. while their state isn’t as bad as it seemed, the party is faced with a quandary. Their series of setbacks finds them with little food or other provisions. To push on after their quarry would be to invite disaster. A short but heated debate follows over what to do next.

This opening sequence does a good job of softly reintroducing the characters to the audience. Each of the party members gets a chance to share their voice, allowing the audience to remember who these rarely-seen personalities are. Their continued misunderstanding with the central party continues to grow. The deepening resentment promises to build until it eventually receives its resolution.

As the party begins their trek back to the surface, Delicious in Dungeon Episode 14 sees them wander into an unearthly fog. Soon, mermen appear, and Karbu finds himself fighting for his life. But something about this engagement feels off and the party leader soon realizes the truth. He is fighting his own people. Kabru’s deductions showcase a sharp intellect not previously revealed. How he recognizes reactions and fighting style is impressive. How he walks through the situation in his head flows nicely through the scene. Kato’s level and cool voice work enhances the character’s reasoned response.

Thanks to Kabru’s skillful reasoning, the true cause of the illusions comes to light. The party is being manipulated by the corpse collectors they ran into previously. It seems to help the corpse collection business when they can stage a supply of corpses to haul. So they set out to have Kabru’s people do their dirty work so they could claim the reward for returning them.

Much like how the series endeavors to build out the ecology of the dungeon, it also uses this side story to build out the political and economic realities of the dungeon. We learn some interesting details about how life works through Delicious in Dungeon Episode 14’s explorations.

While the information brokered during these moments is useful, its timing could’ve been better. The episode as a whole contains a fair amount of talking, and this supplementary information doesn’t help. With the viewer’s mind likely already wandering to the core cast, giving exposition about the economic realities of the dungeon isn’t what’s needed to pull them back.

Once the party finishes a quick meal and Kabru fills everyone in on his many observations about their current situation, they set off again for the surface. They don’t get far before running afoul of a Sea Serpent.

The episode does a great job of heralding the monster’s appearance. Hints like a school of fish panicking and ominous shadows in the water warn of the danger. This momentary build-up gives the viewer’s expectations a chance to ride. How the animation captures the gargantuan creature breaching the water is a well-delivered moment. The struggle with the serpent is cut short when another adventuring group arrives, making short work of the creature.

This new group stands out visually from most other characters the show presents. Grabbed in clothing worn by ninjas and samurai, the decidedly Eastern look of the group provides a sharp visual contrast from the rest of the world.

As Delicious in Dungeon Episode 14 wraps up, we learn the leader of this skilled party is searching for Falin. Kabru offers to aid them in their search. This surprising shift in narrative direction leaves the story on a curious note. What will happen when these parties eventually find our heroes is an intriguing proposition. One that fans will have to wait for.

Delicious in Dungeon Episode 14 feels like a detour for the narrative. While Kabru’s party may eventually earn their place in the narrative, having these cutaway episodes with them has thus far yielded far less than what the series has sacrificed of its narrative momentum for them. Despite that, there are some interesting tidbits about the world here. Coupled with some solid animation and you have an entry that isn’t a complete loss, even if it doesn’t shine either.

Delicious in Dungeon Episode 14 is streaming now on Netflix.